"And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (37) But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. (38) And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? (39) Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (40) And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. (41) And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? (42) And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. (43) And he took it, and did eat before them."
How truly blessed is it to behold, the gracious attention of the Lord Jesus, in thus affording such repeated testimonies of the reality of his resurrection to his disciples, both when separate, and when collected together. And I think the Reader will, with me admire, the palpable evidence the Lord gave of his bodily presence, not only in submitting the pierced hands and feet, through which the nails had passed, when fastening his body to the cross; but also, in the proof the Lord gave of his human nature being alive, in eating of the broiled fish and the honeycomb. Reader! gather from this view of thy Lord's grace, some, at least, of the sweet instructions it brings. Remember that Jesus had now finished redemption-work: and yet there is no change of nature in him. Moreover, He is the same tender, the same all-loving, and lovely Lord Jesus as ever! And, observe the humble fare Jesus partook of, the part of a broiled fish, and of the honeycomb. Humble fare is, for the most part, the fare of the Lord's people; but Jesus partook of it then, and thus sweetly sanctified it forever. But more particularly do I intreat the Reader not to forget, that the very wounds which Jesus shewed to his disciples, to convince them of his person, and of his triumph over death by his resurrection, are the same marks which he everlastingly presents to his Father for them, in pleading the merits of his soul-offering, and death, for their salvation. Paul was commissioned by the Holy Ghost to tell the Church, that Christ's return to heaven, was, to appear in the presence of God for us. Hebrews 9:24. And that his blood speaketh for them to God. Hebrews 12:24. And John was admitted into visions of heaven, purposely to behold Christ as a lamb which had been slain. Revelation 5:6. So, that the Church of God now enjoy, in full testimony of faith, what the Old Testament Saints had in figure represented to them; namely, the High Priest going in before the mercy seat, with the names of Israel to appear before God. Exodus 28:29-30. And this was what the Church so passionately longed for in the coming of Christ. Song of Solomon 8:6. Think, Reader! and may the Lord give me also grace never to lose sight of it; what a blessed encouragement it is, under all deadness in myself, and heart-straitenings in prayer, there is One whose pierced hands and side plead for me, when I have no power to plead for myself. We have, saith John, an advocate with the Father and He is the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 2:1-2.